RDA sells land for commercial uses
BY BOB SMITH
CALIFORNIA CITY The city's Redevelopment Agency agreed this week, by a 3-1 vote, to sell 1.2 acres along CalCity Blvd. immediately east of the Library to Investwest for a three-unit commercial development.
Investwest is the development company which is trying to bring a supermarket to the city but they have retail customers who are ready to proceed immediately and thus needed to find land outside of the Villages commercial park which houses RiteAid and McDonalds. According to documents provided to the RDA board, Investwest plans initially to put in three units which they plan on housing a bank, a video rental store and a restaurant. Rumors floating around the city call for a Taco Bell as the restaurant. Also included in the sale was an option to purchase 7.8 more acres surrounding the 1.2 acre plot on the north and east. No plans have been divulged as of yet for this property but the RDA board made a master plan of all nine acres part of the conditions of the sale.
In other land dealings this week, the board granted Oceanside Development LLC, new owners of the Tierra del Sol hotel project, the exclusive right for 90 days to negotiate with the city for the purchase of 29.2 acres just north of South Loop Blvd. and west of CalCity Blvd. South. This land, abutting the southeast side of the golf course will be used, if the purchase goes through, for the construction of 107 single-family stick-build homes. On the average, each home will have just over one-quarter of an acre of property.
In a closed session at the end of the board meeting, directors directed the executive director not to negotiate concerning the Bissett project development agreement. The Bissett property is on CalCity Blvd. just across the street from the Aspen Mall.
In actions taken when sitting as the city council, City Councilmembers unanimously rejected four bids which had been presented by contractors wishing to construct the Aspen Street Sewer project. City Manager Jack Stewart presented the bids along with the staff assessment that all the bids, which ranged from $224,870 to $469,646, as being far too high, more than $75,000 above projected costs. Since the construction of the sewer was authorized by an election of the property owners of the area, in order to go over the amount noted during the election will either require an new election or the finding of additional funds from some other source. Staff will evaluate all the option available to the city and make recommendations at the next council meeting on January 6.
Council authorized city staff to proceed with a request for a grant from the Kern County Air Pollution Control District for $50,000 to purchase a street sweeper to replace a 40-year-old one currently in use.
During council discussions, Councilman Dempsey urged city staff to prepare for a forecast loss in revenue since the repeal of the Vehicle Tax will cause the city to lose over $400,000 that probably will not be made good by the Legislature since the Assembly has recessed without considering any remedies for the plight of cities and counties who will be severely affected. Semi-annual budget review is scheduled for January 20 and staff plans to present options at that time to counter the loss of revenue.
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